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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Onward and Upward. I will miss you Honeyville.

I know there are rumors floating around about me leaving Honeyville and today I am putting them to rest. Yes. The rumors are true. After 2 1/2 years as being their employee, I have had some changes come that I didn't expect. Life is that way isn't it? Just when you think you know what is happening, things change. This is not goodbye however. This is just a change in how often I will be in the stores teaching classes. Every now and then I'll be helping out with recipes as well.

How did it Start?

Back when I started with Honeyville, I had no idea what a grand adventure I was going to have! It was almost mind boggling the first time I saw Honeyville setting up for a preparedness event that I would be speaking at in their Salt Lake city store. I adored seeing all the chairs lined up for the show! They had invited me to be one of the teachers and I taught eleven classes in two days at their Salt Lake location.

One of the things that first impressed me was that Lowell Sherratt Jr. (President of Honeyville Farms) and his darling wife were out in the warehouse along with all the rest of the employees to help move the buckets and prepare for the fair. Now, maybe it's just me...but I think it's a rare, beautiful pleasure to see a leader who is willing to lead by example and work late into the night at any age. I'm so very impressed by this attitude. Lowell's father started Honeyville Farms back in 1951. Now the Honeyville business has grown over the years to be one of the larger food manufacturers in the Western United States supplying Honeyville grains and mixes to customers all over the world!

That preparedness event marked the start of a new friendship with Honeyville and the chance for my spice line, that had only previously been sold out of my home cottage business online, to be in Honeyville retail stores.

Within a few months, Honeyville hired me as "their face" and company chef. I got to see behind the scenes how the company worked and I got to fall in love all over again with the people who make things work at their stores and in their corporate office. I loved the integrity of their employees. I loved the way the dealt with their customers. It was incredible to part of the family. Soon they had put together a new label and added my spices to the online store and all their retail locations.

I loved teaching in the Honeyville kitchen!The dearest experiences I had happened right in the Honeyville kitchen.It was amazing to see people connect new ideas, learn new skills, and connect with all of you. The love has been remarkable.

I will never forget the ones who brought me bread. It was their bread! Bread they had learned to make when they had come to my classes. I saw many hands in the dough that had never been there before. Usually those events ended with me driving home with tears of gratitude in my eyes. It was humbling to see lives being changed. It was humbling to see you all taking home a skill and then sharing it with those you love the most in your kitchens at home.

There are faces I will never forget. There are experiences that can never be erased. There are smiles that will never fade in my heart.

I got to travel a lot. Oh. And I must admit that I will really miss slipping over to the park in Brigham City, Utah, and fishing with my dad after a very eventful full day of classes at Honeyville in Utah.

The book signing events for the Honeyville books were memorable beyond words. Everyone made me feel dearly loved.

Writing Labels and Recipes!

Probably one of the biggest highlights of my job has been being able to write the words for the labels as well as develop recipes for the Honeyville products and cans! Full bragging rights...That was an epic part of the job.

Preparedness Events!
Speaking at State-wide and nation-wide preparedness events in front of hundreds of people was life changing. This one for Utah State University was especially awesome. I got to have my mom there. Mom got her food science degree at USU around the time I was born. Ahh. The circle of life.

Seeing dreams come true!
I loved taking part of the process. One of the things Honeyville is known for is mixing and packaging for private labels. I got to work with some of their biggest customers writing labels and sharing recipes.
I loved watching as my dear friends saw their dreams of getting their products mixed and packaged go from an idea to a reality...breathtaking.

Onward and Upward!
As for me, what is next? Moving on from Honeyville will be hard. I'm not going to lie. I'm going to miss being part of the everyday workings. I've cried a lot. You all have made such an difference in my life! However, I will still be visiting periodically for a few classes. You haven't seen the last of me yet darlings! What else will I be up to then?!On TV!
I'm still going to be doing Chef Tess stuff. I'm still working with television crews all over the country. Phoenix folks will get to see me at least once a week! There are rumors of a TV show...but I'll keep you posted.

A New Book!

In April, my new book, Bread Art will be released in bookstores nationally. I'm pretty excited about that.

On the Radio!

I've been offered the opportunity to be on Phoenix Fox news radio every Saturday from 3-5 PM as a radio show co-host on Cooking with Jan D'Atri. Yes. that means you can tune in online nationally at KFYI Iheart Radio . I can't even put into words how blessed I feel about this.

This is not goodbye.

All of that being said, this will not be farewell to Honeyville, it will just be a change in how often I am seen at the stores. I will miss all of you very much, but I will look forward to hearing about your grand adventures with food and life. Nothing is ever going to take away from me the love that I feel in my heart for all of the events and people that came to me because I was a part of this company. You can still get my Honeyville books and spices in their stores and online as well. I can't tell you what it has meant to our little family over the last few years to have your support. I hope that will continue in the future. They will still be Here.

That being said, this is not goodbye. This is "until we meet again!" I hope you are moving "Onward and Upward!"

8 comments:

Chef, I will miss those random opportunities I had to see your smiling face at the store, I admire your determination, drive and dedication. I thank you for your input on some of my endeavors and I cherish the conversations we have had. I will never forget something you told me; "Don't ever give up, you have an excellent product, it will carry you through the hard times". You are an inspiration to do what you enjoy doing, to reach for the stars, to never give up, to always, always, always smile, be thankful and gracious! All that being said.... Let's do lunch sometime Dahling! :)

YAY! So happy for you and your adventures, and those to come. So happy WE have you in Az! I'll always NEED to purchase your books..and hoping for many more :)And, I'll need my next ones autographed! LOL

Chef Tess,Congratulations on your new book, your new radio show, and your NEW AWESOME LIFE! JOURNEY!! It is no surprise that you are off and soaring into the divine success that you are destined for!! I am sorry that my life got derailed this past year with family illness, and I wasn't able to take your classes I had intended to absorb myself in, so this is bittersweet for me...but I am SO EXCITED for your glorious new adventure!! Things are going to take off like a rocketship and wrap around the solar system for you!! You are a STAR already, we will just get to watch the rest of the world join the party!! I will be supporting your new journey with bells on...and a little gluten free bread baking, too!! :D xoxo

Homemade Convenience Meals in a Jar On Fox 10

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